Unit History: East Yorkshire Regiment

The Regiment was raised in 1685 at Nottingham by Sir William Clifton, and following the tradition of the time was named after the Colonel as the ‘Sir William Clifton’s Regiment of Foot’. The Regiment was raised in order to support King James II during the Monmouth Rebellion, when James Scott the 1st Duke of Monmouth (the oldest illegitimate son of Charles II and the King’s nephew) unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the unpopular King. Three years later in 1688 The Regiment rebelled against the King to support Prince William of Orange when he landed in England to claim the throne and went on to become King William III.

The Regiment went on to serve during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) and fought at the battle of Blenheim (1704). It was later garrisoned in Scotland (1714-1724) in the wake of the First Jacobite Rebellion, when many Scottish Clans fought against King William III when James Stuart, the son of the deposed James II, attempted to retake the crown his father had lost. The Regiment went on to serve in the West Indies during the War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–1748), as part of The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48) against the Spanish and fought on the Islands of Dominica, Jamaica and Cuba. The Regimental naming system was simplified in 1751 with each Regiment assigned a ranked number therefore, the Regiment became the 15th Regiment of Foot.

During the Seven Years War (1754–1763) it was used in the unsuccessful Rochefort expedition in 1757, which was hoped to draw a large part of the French force away from invading Britain’s ally, Germany. A year later the Regiment fought with General Wolfe at Louisburg and Quebec and remained in Canada until 1768 and fought again in North America during the American Revolutionary Wars (1775-83). In 1782 the 15th was captured in its entirety by the French while serving in the West Indies and had to be re-formed in England later that year. In 1782 all British Regiments without Royal titles were awarded county titles in order to aid recruitment from that region and therefore the 15th became the 15th (The Yorkshire East Riding) Regiment of Foot. The 15th once again returned to the West Indies during the Napoleonic Wars (1804-1809) this time succeeding in capturing French Islands in the West Indies. The Regiment also served in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) for 10 year from 1845, South Africa during The Second Boer War (1899-1902), Egypt, India, Burma and two World Wars.

The Regiment received further name changes. In 1881 as part of the Childers reform the Regiment became The East Yorkshire Regiment. In 1935 it was award the title of ‘Duke of York’s Own’ in honour of their Colonel George V’s Silver Jubilee and became The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own). In 1958 it was amalgamated with The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wale’s Own) to become The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire until 2006 when it was further merged with the Green Howards (Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment) and Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) to form the Yorkshire Regiment.

East Yorkshire Regiment during WW1

Since 1815 the balance of power in Europe had been maintained by a series of treaties. In 1888 Wilhelm II was crowned ‘German Emperor and King of Prussia’ and moved from a policy of maintaining the status quo to a more aggressive position. He did not renew a treaty with Russia, aligned Germany with the declining Austro-Hungarian Empire and started to build a Navy rivalling that of Britain. These actions greatly concerned Germany’s neighbours, who quickly forged new treaties and alliances in the event of war. On 28th June 1914 Franz Ferdinand the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne was assassinated by the Bosnian-Serb nationalist group Young Bosnia who wanted pan-Serbian independence. Franz Joseph's the Austro-Hungarian Emperor (with the backing of Germany) responded aggressively, presenting Serbia with an intentionally unacceptable ultimatum, to provoke Serbia into war. Serbia agreed to 8 of the 10 terms and on the 28th July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, producing a cascade effect across Europe. Russia bound by treaty to Serbia declared war with Austro-Hungary, Germany declared war with Russia and France declared war with Germany. Germany’s army crossed into neutral Belgium in order to reach Paris, forcing Britain to declare war with Germany (due to the Treaty of London (1839) whereby Britain agreed to defend Belgium in the event of invasion). By the 4th August 1914 Britain and much of Europe were pulled into a war which would last 1,566 days, cost 8,528,831 lives and 28,938,073 casualties or missing on both sides.

The Regiment raised a total of 35 Battalion during the course of the First World War and fought in the major theatres of war; the Western Front, at Gallipoli, in Macedonia and Egypt. It was also awarded 21 Battle Honours and 4 Victoria Crosses during the course of the war.

1st Battalion04.08.1914 Stationed at York as part of the 18th Brigade of the 6th Division.08.08.1914 Moved to Edinburgh and then to Cambridge.10.09.1914 Mobilised for war and landed at St. Nazaire and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1914The actions on the Aisne heights. During 1915The action at Hooge.26.11.1915 Transferred to the 64th Brigade of the 21st Division and continued to engage in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval, The Battle of Le Transloy. During 1917The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The First and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The flanking operations around Bullecourt, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. The Cambrai Operations.During 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The First Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Messines, The Second Battle of Kemmel, The Battle of the Aisne 1918, The Battle of Albert, The Second Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of the St Quentin Canal, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The Battle of the Selle. 11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Berlaimont.

2nd Battalion04.08.1914 Stationed at Kamptee, India at the outbreak of war.Dec 1914 Returned to England and then moved to Winchester to join the 83rd brigade of the 28th Division.16.01.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western front including;During 1915The Second Battle of Ypres, The Battle of Loos.26.10.1915 Embarked for Salonika from Marseilles via Alexandria.03.12.1915 Arrived at Salonika and engaged in various action against the Bulgarian forces including;During 1916The occupation of Mazirko, The capture of Barakli Jum'a. During 1917The capture of Ferdie and Essex Trenches, The capture of Barakli and Kumli.During 1918The Battle of Doiran, The pursuit to the Strumica valley.30.09.1915 Ended the war in Macedonia, north of Lake Doiran.

3rd (Reserve) Battalion04.09.1914 Stationed at Beverley, Yorkshire and then moved to Hull.April 1916 Moved to Withernsea where it remained.

1/4th Battalion Territorial Force04.08.1914 Stationed at Hull as part of the York & Durham Brigade of the Northumbrian Division and then moved to South Holderness and then on to Darlington and then Newcastle.07.04.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne where the formation became the 150th Brigade of the 50th Division which engaged in various action on the Western Front including;During 1915The Battle of St Julien, The Battle of Frezenburg Ridge, The Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge. During 1916The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval, The Battle of the Transloy Ridges. During 1917The First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, The Capture of Wancourt Ridge, The Second Battle of Passchendaele. During 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The Actions at the Somme Crossings, The Battle of Rosieres, The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Battle of the Aisne.15.07.1918 Reduced to cadre and moved to defend the Lines of Communication in Dieppe.16.08.1918 Transferred to the 116th Brigade of the 39th Division.07.11.1918 Demobilised at Cucq.

5th (Cyclist) Battalion Territorial Force04.08.1914 Stationed at Hull and then moved to Louth.May 1915 Moved to Withernsea and then Newbiggin.

2/4th Battalion Territorial ForceSept 1914 Formed at Darlington and then moved to Hull.Feb 1915 Returned to Darlington and joined the 189th Brigade of the 63rd Division, then moved to Cramlington near Newcastle and then on to Retford.July 1916 The Division broken up and the 189th Brigade moved to Catterick.Nov 1916 Moved to Bermuda where it remained.

6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)27.08.1914 Formed at Beverley, Yorkshire as part of the First New Army (K1) in the 32nd Brigade of the 11th Division, then moved to Grantham.Dec 1914 Became a Pioneer Battalion.April 1915 Moved to Witley Camp Godalming.01.07.1915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Gallipoli from Avonmouth via Mudros.07.08.1915 Landed at Suvla Bay and engaged in various actions against the Ottoman Empire.17.12.1915 Evacuated to Mudros due to heavy casualties from combat, disease and severe weather.04.02.1916 Moved to Alexandria to defend the Suez Canal.10.07.1916 Moved to France landing at Marseilles and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The capture of the Wundt-Werk, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Thiepval. During 1917Operations on the Ancre, The Battle of Messines, The Battle of the Langemarck, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde, The Battle of Poelcapelle. During 1918The Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of the Drocourt-Quant Line, The Battle of the Canal du Nord, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre. 11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Hergies north of Bavai.

7th (Service) Battalion16.09.1914 Formed at Beverley, Yorkshire as part of the Second New Army (K2) in the 50th Brigade of the 17th Division, then moved to Wareham.May 1915 Moved to Romsey.14.07.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Delville Wood. During 1917The First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, The Capture of Roeux, The First and Second Battles of Passchendaele. During 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Amiens, The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bapaume, The Battle of Havrincourt, The Battle of Epehy, The Battle of Cambrai 1918, The pursuit to the Selle, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of the Sambre. 11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Aulnoye.

8th (Service) Battalion22.09.1914 Formed at Beverley, Yorkshire as part of the Third New Army (K3) in the 62nd Brigade of the 21st Division, then moved to Tring.Aug 1915 Moved to Witley Camp, Godalming.09.09.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; The Battle of Loos.16.11.1915 Transferred to the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Division which engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The Actions of the Bluff and St Eloi Craters, The Battle of Albert, The Battle of Bazentin, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of the Ancre. During 1917The First, Second and Third Battles of the Scarpe, The Battle of Arleux, The Battle of the Menin Road, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Cambrai 1917.17.02.1918 Disbanded in France, remaining personnel formed the 10th Entrenching Battalion with the 12th West Yorkshire Battalion.

9th (Reserve) Battalion09.11.1914 Formed as a service battalion of the Fourth New Army (K4) at York in the 90th Brigade of the 30th Division.10.04.1915 Became the second reserve battalion in the 2nd Reserve brigade.May 1915 Moved to Harrogate and then on to Rugeley, Cannock Chase.01.09.1916 Became the 7th Training Reserve Battalion.

10th (Service) Battalion (1st Hull) and 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Hull)02.09.1914 The 11th formed and the 10th formed on 29.08.1914 both by Lord Nunburnholme and the East Riding Territorial Force Association at Hull, then moved to Hornsea.June 1915 Both moved to Ripon and joined the 92nd Brigade of the 31st Division.01.09.1915 The 11th taken over by the War Office and the 10th on 11.09.1914 and then both moved to Salisbury Plain.15.12.1915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Egypt from Devonport, Plymouth.30.12.1915 Arrived in Port Said to defend the Suez Canal.Mar 1916 Moved to France and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of the Ancre. During 1917Operations on the Ancre, The Third Battle of the Scarpe, The Capture of Oppy Wood. During 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Defence of Nieppe Forest, The attack at La Becque, The capture of Vieux Berquin, The Battle of Ypres, The action of Tieghem. 11.11.1918 The 10th ended the war in Belgium, near Flobecq east of Renaix.

12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Hull) and 13th (Service) Battalion (4th Hull)03.11.1914 The 13th formed and on the 11.08.1914 The 12th formed, both by Lord Nunburnholme and the East Riding Territorial Force Association at Hull, then moved to Hornsea.June 1915 Both moved to Ripon and joined the 92nd Brigade of the 31st Division.01.09.1915 The 12th taken over by the War Office and then on the 27.08.1915 the 13th and then both moved to Salisbury Plain.15.12.1915 Mobilised for war and embarked for Egypt from Devonport, Plymouth.30.12.1915 Arrived in Port Said to defend the Suez Canal.Mar 1916 Moved to France and the Division engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;During 1916The Battle of Albert, The Battle of the Ancre. During 1917Operations on the Ancre, The Third Battle of the Scarpe, The Capture of Oppy Wood. 08.02.1918 The 13th disbanded in France at Ecurie.During 1918The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume, The First Battle of Arras, The Battle of Estaires, The Battle of Hazebrouck, The Defence of Nieppe Forest, The attack at La Becque, The capture of Vieux Berquin, The Battle of Ypres, The action of Tieghem. 11.11.1918 The 10th ended the war in Belgium, near Flobecq east of Renaix.

14th (Reserve) Battalion (Hull)Aug 1915 Formed from the depot companies of the 10th 11th 12th and 13th Battalions as a local reserve battalion at Lichfield, moved to Clipstone.April 1916 Moved to Seaton Delaval.01.09.1916 Became the 90th Training Reserve Battalion in the 21st Reserve Brigade.

15th (Reserve) BattalionFeb 1916 Formed from the 14th Battalion at Seaton Delaval.01.09.1916 Absorbed into the 15th York 7 Lancs. Regiment which formed the 91st Training Reserve Battalion in the 21st Reserve Brigade.

1st Garrison BattalionOct 1915 Formed at Sheffield then moved to Lichfield.Feb 1916 Moved to India and remained there for the duration of the war.

2nd (Home Service) Garrison BattalionApril 1916 formed at Hull.Aug 1917 became the 8th Battalion of the Royal Defence Corps.

East Yorkshire Regiment during WW2

WW2 Battalions East Yorkshire Regiment

2nd Battalion:The Battalion was in Plymouth and part of the 8th Infantry Brigade. It had recently returned from Palestine. 07 September 1939: By now it had moved to Bridport, Dorset. It became part of the 3rd Infantry Division, same Brigade. 1940: Part of the BEF, Battalion with the formation went to France. June 1940: It retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk and was one of the last Battalions to be evacuated. It returned to the UK and spent time preparing defences on the south coast. Afterwards were chosen to form part of the new “Field Army”1942: Intense combined operation training for the Dieppe raid in France on the 19 August. Lucky for the Battalion the Canadians took on the raid. 1944: Before D-Day the Battalion went to Scotland for training in beach assaults. 06 June 1944: The Battalion took part in Operation Overlord. It took all their objectives despite suffering many casualties.The Battalion was involved in action all the way through the Normandy Campaign, then on into Belgium, Holland and lastly into Bremen, Germany. This attack was the last action of the campaign for the Battalion.08 May 1945: VE day the Battalion were employed on occupational duties in Westphalia, Germany.